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52. An Example of Fortitude ![]() |
Multīs post annīs, quam ea, quae modo dīxī, facta sunt, duae puellae Americānae, quae aliō in oppidō prope mare habitābant, facinus memorābile ausae sunt. Ōlim enim, cum pater eārum longē abesset, in cōnspectum subitō vēnit nāvis longa Britannica; ex quā, cum in portum pervēnisset, mīlitēs multī scaphīs vectī ad lītus celeriter contendērunt atque Americānōrum coepērunt incendere nāvigia, quae tum forte in portū ad ancoram cōnsistēbant.
Fugam iam parābant oppidānī ceterī; at puellae illae, tībiā tympanōque arreptīs, secundum lītus clam properāvērunt, ac colle parvō interpositō clārae canere coepērunt. Quō sonō audītō, Britannī vehementer commōtī armātōs plūrimōs appropinquāre arbitrābantur (nam Americānī multaeque gentēs aliae tībiā tympanōque canere solent, cum in proelium prōgrediuntur). Quārē, veritī nē interciperentur, hostēs, nāvigiīs oppidānōrum relictīs, celerrimē sē ad suam nāvem longam recēpērunt; nam nōn diūtius de iniūriīs inferendīs cōgitābant, sed sine morā nāvem solvērunt atque in mare apertum prōgressī sunt. Ita ā puellīs duābus oppidum servātum est.
Among the ancients, music was a comparatively undeveloped art. The scantiness of the music of the stage is indicated by the above scene from a comedy, where the actor in the foreground is manipulating a tambourine (tympanum), while another in the rear plays upon double pipes (tibiae).
In the Roman army, music was not employed as an accompaniment for the march; but various trumpets were used for sounding signals. In the picture below may be seen the long straight trumpet (tuba) used by the infantry.